The New Hampshire Gazette

LONDON: August 16.

Extract of a Letter from an Officer in Major General Napier's regiment, dated August 3.

We have gained one of the most glorious battles that ever was fought, against an army at least twice our numbers. Prince Ferdinand has, during the whole campaign, notwithstanding all disadvantages, displayed the most masterly skill in generalship, but this last Coup d'Eclat has raised his reputation above the reach of Detraction. Foreseeing, that the Electorate of Hanover would be quite exposed should he retreat further, he determined to bring the Enemy to a battle, notwithstanding their superiority. He knew them too well to expect they would attack him, without a manifest advantage and to endeavour to force their camp and intrenchments, was to take the Bull by the Horns. For these reasons, he resolved to play off a stratagem against M. Contades, in order to draw him out to the open field. As he suspected the camp to be swarming with spies, he communicated his plan only to the general officers. On the 29th and 30th of July he made several marches and counter marches with the army, which was divided into three bodies, chiefly with the design of amusing the Enemy. The 31st he filed off with the main body to the right, quite out of sight, leaving General Wangenheim in the camp with 18000 men. He then posted small bodies in proper places, who, by signals conveyed from one to another, could give him immediate intelligence of the least motion of the French. These dispositions being made, he waited the event of his scheme, which answered to his wish. Betwixt four and five in the morning of August 1, M. Contades poured out his troops, in order to fall on Wangenheim, whom he expected to crush in a twinkling.

That brave General received them with the greatest firmness and resolution. The onset of the French army was extremely furious, rushing with the greatest impetuosity, like a deluge threatning to sweep all before it ; but the undauntedness and good disposition of our troops checked their career. and made them reel back again ; however they soon rallied, and returned to the charge, and Wangenheim must have been overpowered, had not Prince Ferdinand most unexpectedly and disagreeably for the French, advanced with the main body. He immediately fell upon their left wing with great vigour, and saluted them with a most terrible discharge of his artillery, which did prodigious execution, and put them into the utmost disorder ; but fresh troops coming up, the most desperate conflict was renewed. Prince Ferdinand rode up and down through the lines, exhorting the soldiers to behave galliantly: he detached reinforcements wherever there was occasion : he animated his troops by his example, exposing his person like a young officer, and at the same time putting in practice all the arts of a most consummate General. Our British infantry. headed by Generals Waldegrave and Kingsley, fought with the greatest ardour and intrepidity, sustaining and repelling the repeated attacks of the enemy with the most romantic bravery. The common soldiers, so far from being daunted at the sight of their fallen companions, breathed nothing but revenge. For my part, though at the beginning of the engagement I felt a kind of trepidation, yet I was so animated by the brave example of all around me. that when I received a slight wound by a musket ball glancing on my left side, it served only to exasperate me the more, and had I then received orders. I could with the greatest pleasure have rushed into the thickest of the enemy. We fought, in short, like Britons. The Hanoverians, Hessians and Prussians endeavoured to outdo one another, the British to outshine themselves. Interest. honour, glory and emulation, conspired to render the battle of Minden famous to posterity. The French officers did all they could, to wrest the victory from us : often did they rally their broken troops, and returned to the charge, and as often were they beat off with the greatest havock. Our artillery was handsomely served. At last, after the most obstinate dispute of upwards of six hours the French gave way on all hands, in spite of the utmost efforts of their commanders, whom they hurried along in the flight; for a flight it was, and not a retreat. Thousands jumped into the water, and many were forced into it. by the crowds pressing hard behind ; and the roads were all strewed with those who lay expiring of their wounds ; a dismal sight! The loss of the French is computed at 7000 killed on the field. and in the pursuit ; about twice as many wounded ; 4000 drowned, and it is said we have made about 5000 prisoners. We have taken 52 pieces of cannon, 16 pair of colours, 9 standards, and their whole baggage. Our loss, in killed, wounded, and missing, is about 1400, among who is no officer of note. The Hanoverians have lost near 2000. The consequences of this victory shew the decisiveness of it. All the Towns in this Electorate, which the French had made themselves masters of, are now in our possession. Minden, Munster, Bielefeld, Hirschfield, Dulmen, Halteren, and Osnaburg. have surrendered, and their garrisons made prisoners of war. We don't intend, however, to give the French much ease till they are fairly on the other side of the Rhine.